US Congressman, Socialist Leader. Born in Kalvaria, Russia, he attended schools in Russia and also received private instruction in languages, becoming proficient in Russian, Yiddish, English, German, French and Italian. In 1891 he immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City, New York. He studied law, became a United States citizen in 1896, and was admitted to the New York State Bar in the same year. Meyer practiced law and became active in the Socialist and labor movements, providing legal counsel for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the International Fur Workers, the Cloak Makers and the United Hebrew Trades. In 1910 he gained public notice as the leader of a garment workers' strike in New York City. He ran for Congress in 1908, 1910 and 1910 and was defeated by the Democratic candidate. In 1914 he was elected as a Socialist to represent New York's 12th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, and served from 1915 to 1919. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1918, largely because his constituents were angered at his failure to support the United States' entry into World War I, and resumed practicing law in New York City. In 1920 he was again elected to represent the 12th Congressional District, and served one term, 1921 to 1923. In Congress, London sponsored bills which were defeated easily, but became integral elements of the New Deal of the 1930s and Great Society of the 1960s, including the minimum wage, unemployment insurance, anti-lynching laws, and paid maternity leave. After running unsuccessfully for reelection in 1922, Meyer resumed practicing law, while also maintaining his interest in the Socialist and labor movements. He remained active until he died from injures he sustained when he was struck by a taxi as he crossed the street. His body lay in state at the Forward Building on East Broadway in New York City, and thousands of New Yorkers filed by to pay their final respects. He was the namesake of a World War II Liberty ship, and one of the buildings in a New York City housing cooperative founded by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, is named after him.
US Congressman, Socialist Leader. Born in Kalvaria, Russia, he attended schools in Russia and also received private instruction in languages, becoming proficient in Russian, Yiddish, English, German, French and Italian. In 1891 he immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City, New York. He studied law, became a United States citizen in 1896, and was admitted to the New York State Bar in the same year. Meyer practiced law and became active in the Socialist and labor movements, providing legal counsel for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the International Fur Workers, the Cloak Makers and the United Hebrew Trades. In 1910 he gained public notice as the leader of a garment workers' strike in New York City. He ran for Congress in 1908, 1910 and 1910 and was defeated by the Democratic candidate. In 1914 he was elected as a Socialist to represent New York's 12th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, and served from 1915 to 1919. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1918, largely because his constituents were angered at his failure to support the United States' entry into World War I, and resumed practicing law in New York City. In 1920 he was again elected to represent the 12th Congressional District, and served one term, 1921 to 1923. In Congress, London sponsored bills which were defeated easily, but became integral elements of the New Deal of the 1930s and Great Society of the 1960s, including the minimum wage, unemployment insurance, anti-lynching laws, and paid maternity leave. After running unsuccessfully for reelection in 1922, Meyer resumed practicing law, while also maintaining his interest in the Socialist and labor movements. He remained active until he died from injures he sustained when he was struck by a taxi as he crossed the street. His body lay in state at the Forward Building on East Broadway in New York City, and thousands of New Yorkers filed by to pay their final respects. He was the namesake of a World War II Liberty ship, and one of the buildings in a New York City housing cooperative founded by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, is named after him.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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